A new clinical trial at one of China’s top pancreatic cancer centers is offering hope for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) — a stage where surgery is no longer possible but the disease has not yet spread to distant organs.

Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital’s pancreatic surgery department is now recruiting patients for a study combining Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) with standard AG chemotherapy (gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel). This is one of the first trials in China to evaluate a Chinese-developed TTFields device specifically for pancreatic cancer.

What makes this significant: TTFields is already included in the NCCN Pancreatic Cancer Guidelines (2025 v2) as a “consider for clinical use” option (Category 2B) for locally advanced disease. This trial could provide the data needed to move it from “promising” to “standard of care.”

Important: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your treating oncologist before making any treatment decisions.

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What Is TTFields (Tumor Treating Fields)?

TTFields is a non-invasive, local anti-mitotic therapy with minimal systemic toxicity. Here’s how it works:

• Mechanism: Low-intensity (1–3 V/cm), intermediate-frequency (100–300 kHz) alternating electric fields are delivered to the tumor area through non-invasive electrode patches placed on the skin
• Effect: The electric fields disrupt cancer cell division (mitosis), causing tumor cells to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death)
• Systemic toxicity: Extremely low — unlike chemotherapy, TTFields does not damage healthy cells throughout the body

Regulatory status:

• FDA-approved for recurrent and newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)
• CE-certified in Europe for the same indications
• NMPA-approved in China (since May 2020) for GBM in combination with temozolomide
• Included in CSCO Pancreatic Cancer Guidelines (2020) as a Level III expert recommendation for advanced pancreatic cancer

The device used in this trial — EFE-P100 — is developed by a Chinese medical device company and is specifically designed for thoracic and abdominal tumors.

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The Clinical Trial: Key Details

Detail	Information
Trial name	TTFields + AG chemotherapy for first-line treatment of LAPC
Institution	Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai
Department	Pancreatic Surgery
Phase	II (single-arm, safety + efficacy)
Regimen	EFE-P100 TTFields + gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel
Target population	Locally advanced, unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Status	Actively recruiting
Contact	Wang Wenquan: 18017317893 / Liu Chenchen: 15821225036 / Liu Lu: 17521086929 (WeChat)

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Who Is Eligible?

The trial is looking for patients who meet the following criteria:

Inclusion criteria:

• Age 18–75, any gender
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma
• Locally advanced disease (not resectable, no distant metastasis)
• No prior anti-cancer treatment for this condition
• Willing to use TTFields device and attend monthly follow-up visits (3x per month)

Locally advanced disease criteria (one or more):

For pancreatic head/neck tumors:

• Tumor contacts superior mesenteric artery (SMA) >180°
• Tumor contacts celiac axis >180°
• Tumor involves or occludes superior mesenteric vein or portal vein (unreconstructable)
• Tumor extensively contacts the jejunal drainage branch of SMV

For pancreatic body/tail tumors:

• Tumor contacts SMA or celiac axis >180°
• Celiac axis and abdominal aorta involvement
• Tumor involves or occludes SMV or portal vein (unreconstructable)

Exclusion considerations:

• Open wounds or planned external drainage at the electrode placement site
• Implanted metal stents or plans to implant one

Final eligibility is determined by the clinical team based on comprehensive evaluation.

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Why This Trial Matters for International Patients

1. NCCN Recognition

The NCCN Pancreatic Cancer Guidelines (2025 v2) now list TTFields as a Category 2B recommendation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. This means:

• The evidence base is growing
• Major guideline bodies acknowledge the approach
• This trial could generate the data needed for broader adoption

2. Non-Invasive Advantage

For patients who cannot tolerate aggressive chemotherapy or who have reached the limits of standard treatment, TTFields offers:

• No surgical intervention required
• Minimal systemic side effects
• Can be used alongside chemotherapy
• Home-use potential (after initial setup)

3. Shanghai Access

Fudan Zhongshan Hospital is one of China’s leading centers for pancreatic cancer treatment. The hospital has:

• High surgical volume for pancreatic procedures
• Multidisciplinary tumor board approach
• Experience with international patients
• Located in central Shanghai with good transportation access

4. Combination Approach

Rather than using TTFields as a standalone therapy, this trial combines it with AG chemotherapy — the current standard first-line regimen for advanced pancreatic cancer. This is consistent with the NCCN recommendation and maximizes the chance of clinical benefit.

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How TTFields Compares to Other Treatment Options

Treatment	Setting	Median Survival	Key Advantage
NALIRIFOX	First-line advanced	11.1 months	Current gold standard chemo
AG (gem/nab-pac)	First-line advanced	9.2 months	Standard regimen, well-tolerated
TTFields + AG (this trial)	First-line LAPC	TBD	Non-invasive, minimal toxicity
FOLFIRINOX	First-line advanced	11.1 months	Higher response rate, more toxicity
Surgery + adjuvant	Resectable	20+ months	Best outcomes, not available for LAPC

For patients with locally advanced disease who are not surgical candidates, the standard approach has been chemotherapy alone. This trial adds TTFields to the regimen — potentially extending disease control without increasing systemic toxicity.

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What International Patients Should Do

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic cancer and is interested in this trial:

1. Get comprehensive imaging — Contrast-enhanced CT or MRI to determine resectability status and confirm no distant metastasis
2. Obtain molecular profiling — KRAS mutation status, MSI/MMR, PD-L1 expression
3. Contact the trial team — Reach out via WeChat (numbers above) to discuss eligibility
4. Consider logistics — The trial requires 3 monthly visits to Shanghai; plan for accommodation and travel
5. Don’t delay — If you’re a candidate, starting treatment early (before disease progression) improves outcomes

Medical tourism support: Navigating Chinese clinical trials from abroad can be complex. Working with a medical coordinator who understands both the clinical requirements and practical logistics (visa, accommodation, translation) can significantly reduce friction.

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The Bottom Line

Tumor Treating Fields represent a genuinely novel approach to pancreatic cancer treatment — non-invasive, low-toxicity, and increasingly backed by clinical evidence. This trial at Fudan Zhongshan Hospital is one of the first to evaluate a Chinese-developed TTFields device specifically for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

For international patients with LAPC who are not surgical candidates, this trial offers:

• Access to a treatment approach recognized by NCCN guidelines
• Combination with standard chemotherapy (not replacing it)
• Treatment at one of China’s top pancreatic cancer centers
• Minimal additional toxicity beyond the chemotherapy regimen

The science is still evolving, but the trajectory is clear: TTFields is moving from “experimental” to “evidence-based” in pancreatic cancer. This trial is part of that progression.

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This article is based on a clinical trial recruitment notice published by the Zhongshan Pancreatic Tumor Center (中山胰腺肿瘤中心), Fudan University, May 2026. Trial availability and eligibility criteria may change. For the latest information, contact the trial team directly or consult our clinical trials page. This article does not constitute medical advice.